Your Old Siding: Should It Stay Or Should It Go Before Installing New?
Installing vinyl siding can be a great way of ending the maintenance headaches of your old wood siding once and for all
, but should you remove all the old siding before installing the new or can you just side over it? There are arguments that can be made for both courses of action, and your decision should be made after considering both options and your home's age and condition.
Remove the Existing Siding or Nail over It?
If you live in an old house that was built during the 1800s or earlier, there's a good chance it doesn't have exterior sheathing behind the wood siding and that your wall insulation leaves something to be desired. Removing the wood siding can be a good opportunity to install wall insulation and even new exterior sheathing before the vinyl siding goes on. Wood siding that's actively rotting and the source isn't readily evident should also be removed or you'll just be covering up the problem with new siding and possibly inviting mold and mildew.
There are several compelling reasons for leaving the wood siding on such as:
Cost--Even if you remove the siding yourself, you may have to pay dump fees. Hiring a contractor to tear it off might cost around $.50 a square foot, which may not include hauling it off
Time--Tearing off old siding can be time consuming. Depending on the size of your home, it could take days to accomplish.
Insulation--Even though it's not much, the wood does provide some insulation value and the insulation board that should be installed over it prior to the vinyl going on provides even more.
It can't be said that your old siding should always stay on or always be taken off; you're going to have to make a determination based on your own situation.